WASHINGTON, DC, US — The amount of grain inspected at all major US ports was down 9% in the fourth quarter and 13% from the five-year average, according to the Federal Grain Inspection Service of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Totals were down in all regions with the exception of the interior, which was buoyed by increased corn and soybean inspections destined for Mexico and Taiwan, according to the USDA Grain Transportation Report from Feb. 15.

From 2022-23 to 2023-24, exports are estimated to be up 26% for corn, down 14% for soybeans and down 4% for wheat.

In the Gulf of Mexico, inspections totaled 16.5 million tonnes in the fourth quarter, a drop of 17% year-to-year and 25% from the five-year average. The year-to-year drop reflected a decline in soybean and wheat inspections.

Inspections in the Pacific Northwest totaled 10.1 million tonnes, an 8% drop compared to last year and a 7% drop from the five-year average. The yearly decline reflected a drop in soybean inspections, the USDA said.

Interior grain inspections were 6.1 million tonnes, up 25% year-to-year and from the five-year average. Increases in corn and soybean inspections contributed to the yearly increase.

Inspections in the Atlantic-Great Lakes totaled 1.4 million tonnes, down 26% compared to last year and 19% down from the five-year average. The yearly decline was mostly due to a drop in soybeans.

By commodity, fourth-quarter corn inspections were 9.3 million tonnes, an increase of 28% from a year ago but down 8% from the five-year average.  

Soybean inspections were 21.3 million tonnes, down 21% year-to-year and down 12% from the five-year average.